The 'Brind' family previously owned the pictured fireplace surround, having been removed from J R R Tolkien's Master Bedroom. Tolkiens' Lord of the Rings was finished in 1949 with Tolkien originally wanting it to be one book, but because it was so long it was divided into three books namely; 'The Fellowship of the Ring' followed by 'The Two Towers' and then 'The Return of the King'. Two of the books were published in 1954 with 'The Return of the King being published in 1955 whilst Tolkien was living in Headington, Oxford (1953-1968) from where the fireplace surround was removed. It was once advertised on ebay for $250k although maybe that was a little enthusiastic! The fireplace surround is now in the USA.
